The senator representing Adamawa North, Elisha Abbo, says he is still the candidate of the All Progressive Congress in the forthcoming 2023 general elections, despite a court ruling that sacked him as the party’s flag bearer on Monday.
Abbo on Wednesday exclusively told newsmen that the court ruling had no basis and such should not be taken seriously.
A High Court in Yola sacked Abbo as the senatorial candidate for Adamawa North on the ground that he had been expelled by the party and should therefore not be recognised as such.
Recall also that the state chapter of the party had in October expelled Abbo over anti-party activities following his open criticism of the Muslim-Muslim ticket for the party’s choice of presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
In his response to his sacking as the party’s candidate, Abbo said the court ruling was the handiwork of desperate politicians who don’t know when to give up.
“It’s not a serious thing though, they only wanted to draw media attention and publicity because I am involved. Outside of the media attention, it is absolutely nothing; I am neither bothered nor worried because they do not have a case against me.” he said.
The lawmaker said he would take the case to the Court of Appeal and also called on his supporters to disregard the ruling.
He said, “You can imagine a state High Court assuming jurisdiction against the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Agitating over an ongoing case in the Federal High Court, the truth is that they have delivered their judgement which is what the Peoples Democratic Party wanted in collaboration with some people in the APC.”
He added that, “They have delivered their judgement without involving the INEC, because in this case as it is, INEC is a party and the National Chairman of the party is also a party.
“All they are doing is just noise and that is where it would end. I am still the candidate of the party and I am the one holding the party’s mandate.
“I will appeal so that tomorrow, when someone is a candidate of the party but because the state chairman of the party isn’t comfortable with such a person, they would not start threatening such with impeachment.
“I will appeal the case in order to serve as a deterrent to others and not set an evil precedence. Our democracy in Nigeria is a growing democracy, it hasn’t still matured, and we are still monitoring our democracy.
“The judiciary is a part of any democratic process and to ensure that democracy grows, we have to find a way through which we can continue to dispel this kind of cases so that they won’t try it with someone who doesn’t know what to do or where to go, so that is why I am going to the Court of Appeal to set this aside.
“You cannot assume jurisdiction over INEC as a state High Court. I am still the candidate of the party and that stands as it is.”
